Berrien county Michigan

Rast, Benjamin
Navy Seaman

Benjamin Rast, age 23, from Niles, Michigan, Berrien county.

Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: Assigned as hospitalman to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

Date of death: Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Death details: Died while conducting a dismounted patrol northeast of Patrol Base Alcatraz, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The military would later release he was killed by friendly fire by a drone airstrike. Also killed was Marine Sgt. Jeremy Smith

Source: Department of Defense, Chicago Tribune.

Payne, William Lee
Army Master sergeant

William Lee Payne, age 46, from Watervliet, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: William O. Payne and Rosemary (deceased)

Service era: Iraq
Schools: Otsego High (1975)
Military history: Hhc 2D Battalion 70Th Armor, Fort Riley, Kansas

Date of death: Friday, May 16, 2003
Death details: Killed when ordnance exploded as he examined it in Haswah, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Froehlich, Laurence E.
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Laurence E. Froehlich, age 25, from Sodus, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: Theodore Froehlich
Spouse: Jo Ann (Gerencser). Married June 10, 1972
Children: None

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Benton Harbor High (1968), U.S. Air Force Academy (1972)

Date of death: Tuesday, May 13, 1975
Death details: One of the 23 men killed in a CH53 helicopter crash in Thailand., Saint Joseph Herald Palladium (1975)

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1975), findagrave.com

Wells, James Allen
Army Captain

James Allen Wells, age 26, from Niles, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: Albert D. Wells
Spouse: Carol K. (Deka)
Children: Kelly A. Wells

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Niles High (1963), Lake Michigan College, Indiana University at South Bend

Date of death: Thursday, September 16, 1971
Death details: Killed in an ambush in South Vietnam
Cemetery: Highland in South Bend, Indiana

Source: National Archives, South Bend Tribune (1971)

Ruff, Gary Lynn
Navy Fireman

Gary Lynn Ruff, age 21, from Benton Harbor, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: Orville Ruff and Mrs William Klemm

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Benton Harbor (1967)

Date of death: Thursday, September 3, 1970
Death details: Killed in South Vietnam in an explosion of mortar bags at his base. His detail was assigned to dispose of mortar bags by burning them.

Source: National Archives, Saint Joseph Herald Press (1970)

Weaver, Jerry Michael
Army Staff sergeant

Jerry Michael Weaver, age 24, from Niles, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: Earl D. Weaver

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, July 16, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed, South Vietnam
Cemetery: Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Sumnerville

Source: National Archives, Benton Harbor Herald Palladium (1970)

Carver, Randall Allen
Army Specialist 4

Randall Allen Carver, age 20, from Three Oaks, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: Floyd Carver

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, July 2, 1970
Death details: He was killed in South Vietnam when his half-track truck struck a land mine.
Cemetery: Forest Lawn near Three Oaks

Source: National Archives, Benton Harbor Herald Palladium (1970)

Herndon, Thomas Hayden
Army Sergeant

Thomas Hayden Herndon, age 21, from Saint Joseph, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: Hayden Herndon

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Saint Joseph High (1967)

Date of death: Thursday, July 2, 1970
Death details: Killed at night while in a defensive position when the area in South Vietnam came under attack

Source: National Archives, Benton Harbor Herald Palladium (1970)

Dixon, Carl Dean
Army Private 1st class

Carl Dean Dixon, age 21, from Niles, Michigan, Berrien county.

Parents: Clara Yarber

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Buchanan High

Date of death: Friday, May 8, 1970
Death details: Killed in Cambodia by enemy shell fire while he was driving a truck.

Source: National Archives, Herald Press (1970)

VanDewarker, Richard L.
Army Warrant officer

Richard L. VanDewarker, age 25, from Eau Claire, Michigan, Berrien county.

Children: Daughter, 4

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Grand Ledge Academy (1962)

Date of death: Tuesday, May 5, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed, South Vietnam; the helicopter he was co-piloting crashed while on a mission

Source: National Archives, Benton Harbor Herald Palladium (1970)

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